Printing mechanism.



M. H. BALLARD.

PRINTING MECHAMSM.

APPLICATlON FILED APR. 10. 19:4.

Patented Nov. 30, 1915.

5 SHEETS-SWEET I.

J MN @NN NNN O WNNNI 6 W ww M. H. BALLARD.

PRINTING MECHANISM.

APPLICATION men APR, I0. 1914.

5 SHEETS-SHEET 3 M. H. BALLARD.

mums MECHANISM.

APPLICATION FILED APR. I0. 1914. d N 0 1.162 016, atente 0v. 6

QNN E Nmw N M. H. BALLARD.

PRINTING MECHANISM.

APPLICATION men APR. 10. I314.

1 2,01 6. Patented Nov. 30, 1915.

5 SHEETS-SHEET 4. E .4 my 111 ,112 110 m 10g O 43 0 46 E 35 O Q 1 5 1 S l I I M. H. BALLARD.

PRINTING MECHANISM.

APPLICATION FILED APR. 10. 1914.

Patented Nov. 30, 1915.

5 SHEETSSHEET 5- e (a 2) zu kjfl 4% UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

MILTON H. BALLARD, OF LYNN, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR'TO FEDERAL MANUFAC- TURING COMPANY, OF SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA, A CORPORATION OF CALI- FORNIA.

PRINTING MECHANISM.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Nov. 30, 1915.

Original application filed September 25, 1911, Serial No. 651,114. Divided and this application flied April 10, 1914. Serial No. 830,866.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, MILTON H. BALLARD, a citizen of the United States, residing at Lynn, in the county of Essex and Commonwealth of Massachusetts, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Printing Mechanism, of which the following is a specification, accompanied by drawings forming a part of the same, the present application being a division of my pending application, Serial No. 651,114, filed September 25, 1911.

The object of my present invention is to provide a machine by which labels may be manufactured in a continuous strip or roll, and it comprises mechanism for shaping the individual labels from a continuous strip of paper or other suitable material and embossing or printing upon each of the labels a design, and delivering the labels from the machine in a continuous strip, and I accomplish this object by the construction and arrangement of parts as hereinafter described, the novel features being pointed out in the annexed claims.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 represents a side view of a label making machine embodying my invention. Fig. 2 is a side view of the machine showing the side opposite that shown in Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a vertical sectional view. Fig. 4 is a plan view with a portion of the ink distributing mechanism removed. Figs. 5 and 6 are detailed views, partly in section, of the mechanism for adjusting the type cylinders.

Figs. 7 and 8 are detailed views, partly in rlcrs.

section, of the cam actuated mechanism for operating the ink transferring cylinders of the printing mechanism. Figs. 9, 10 and 11 are detailed views of one of the type cylin- Fig. 12 is a detailed end view ofone of the ink distributing rollers, together with the yielding ink transferring rollers by which ink is transferred from the distributing rollers to the type cylinders. Fig. 13 is a detailed view of the guide adjusting mechanism. Fig. 14 is a detailed view in section of the eccentric mechanism for adjusting the position of the platen cylinders to the type cylinders. Fig. 15 is a plan view of the mechanism for imparting a longitudinal tension to the strip of labels. Fig. 16 is a rear view of a portion of the ink transferthe continuous strip shown in Fig. 17. Figs. 1

19 and 20 are diagrammatic figures showin side and plan views respectively of a row 0 labels in its passage through the machine, and also showing amodified form of the tension device. Fig. 21 is a' central sectional view of the expanding roll forming part of the modified tension device, illustrated in Fig. 20.

Similar reference characters refer to similar parts in the different figures.

The machine to which my present invention relates is designed to produce in a continuous strip a series of labels, which in the present instance are printed with some desirable design, and delivered continuously 1 from the machine to a drying room or suitable drying apparatus, not shown nor described herein as the method of drying forms no part of my present invention.

The completed labels are cut in any fanciful shape which may be desired, in the present instance in the form of circular disks connected together by a narrow neck, as shown in Fig. 18, forming rentering angles with curved sides between the labels. The labels which, in the present instance, are assumed to be formed from paper are cut from a continuous strip, as shown at 1, Fig. 17, having parallel sides and fed to the machine from a coil. From the strip 1 by suitable mechanism the labels 2are partially severed, the side strips 3, 3 being separated from the labels which are delivered in a continuous strip, as shown at 4, Fig. 18.

During the passage of the continuous strip of labels through the machine, one surface of the label may be embossed, or, as in the present instance, printed, by a printing mechanism which, as shown in Fig. 18, colors Referring to Fig. 3, the continuous strip of paper in its passage through the machine is indicated by the broken line 6, and is taken from a coil, not shown, between a pair of revolving brushes 7 and 8, for the purpose of removing dust or lint from the surface of the paper. The brushes 7 and 8 are positively rotated in the direction of the arrows 9 and 10 by belt connections 11, 12 and 13, Fig. 2, with a pulley 14 carried upon a driving shaft 15 to which power is imparted through a belt pulley 16 from any con venient source. The upper brush 8 is journaled in a pivoted framework 17, and the brushes are drawn together by the tension of the crossed belt 11, the distance between the axes of the brushes being determined by an adjusting screw 18.

From the brushes 7 and 8 the continuous strip of paper 6 is conducted through a guide 19, Fig. 3, consisting of a pair of flanged plates 20 and 21, Fig. 13, capable of being adjusted for strips of different widths, and also to vary the center of the strip relatively to the cutting and printing mechanisms. The adjusting mechanism for the flanged plates 20 and 21 forming the guide 19 is shown in Fig. 13 and consists of a rotatable rod 22 having near one end a screwthread engaging a screwthreaded collar 24 on which the flanged plate 21 is mounted. Loosely held upon the rod 22 between the collars 25 is a sleeve 26 upon which is mounted the flanged plate 20. The rod 22 is also provided with a screwthread 27 which engages the screwthreaded interior of the sleeve 28. The sleeve 28 is provided with an exterior screwthread 29 which engages a screwthreaded opening in a supporting framework'30. The screwthread 27 is twice the pitch of the screwthread 23, and, as the collar 24 and sleeve 26 are held from rotating by the engagement of the guide plates 20 and 21 with the fixed framework of the machine. the rotation of the screwthreaded rod will impart twice the movement to the sleeve 26 that it does to the collar 24. thereby bringing the plates 20 and 21 together when the rod 22 is rotated in one direction and separating the plates 20 and 21 when the rod 22 is rotated in the opposite direction. By this means a uniform movement toward or away from each other is imparted to the flanged guide plates 20 and 21 in order to adjust the. guide to accommodate strips of different widths. When the guide plates have been thus adjusted, the entire rod 22 may be moved endwise in the framework by the independent rotation of the screwthreaded sleeve 28.

By the adjustment of the guide plates 20, 21, the continuous strip is conducted to a cutting mechanism consisting of a pair of cutting disks carried upon a rotating shaft 31 and having their peripheries provided with cutting edges and crimped or properly shaped to form the desired outline of the labels. One of these cutting disks is represented at 32, Fig. 3, and is arranged to cooperate with an upper roll 33, said disks 32 and roll 33 being adjusted to rotate in close proximity but not in absolute contact.

The roll 33, which forms a bed roll against which the paper strip is pressed, is loosely journaled, but the cutting disks 32 are positively driven, by means of a gear 34 carried upon the driving shaft 15, Fig. 3. The cutting disks 32 and bed roll 33 are adjusted by means of adjusting screws 35 which bear upon the journal boxes 36, Fig. 2, of the bed roll The journal boxes 36 rest upon spiral springs 37 interposed between the journal boxes 36 and'the journal boxes 38 of the cutting disks 32. From the cutting disks the paper strip, having its fibers partially separated by the action of the disks 32, is conducted through a second guide 39, Fig. 3, constructed similar to the guide 19 and capableof adjustment by an adjusting mechanism similar to that already described with reference to that of the guide 19, and comprising a rotating screwthreaded rod 40 similar to the screwthreaded rod 22. From the guide 39 the paper strip (3 is conducted over a narrow guide plate 41, shown in plan view in Figs. 1-1 and 15.

The guide plate 41 passes over a roll 42 and between a pair of rolls 43 and 44 carried upon a shaft 45. The side strips 3, 3, Fig. 17. are conducted downward upon each side of the plate 41. and between the roll 42 and rolls 43 and 44 into the delivery tube 46, Fig. 3, the side strips being indicated in Fig. 3 by the broken line 3*. The rolls 43 and 44 are pressed against the roll 42 by a yielding pressure exerted by springs 47 and adjusted by screws 48, Fig. 15. The shaft 49 carrying the roll 42 is geared to the shaft 45 by gears 50 and 51, and the gear 50 is capable of a frictional engagement with a driving gear 52 by means of a conical nut 53 carried upon a screwthreaded section of the shaft 49. By disengaging the shaft 49 from the driving power, the friction rolls 42, 43

over which the inner edges of the side strips 3 are drawn in their downward movement over the roll 42, thereby producing a lateral or transverse strain upon the side strips in order to draw the reentering angles 56, Fig. 17, away from the labels without tearing the latter.

The mechanism for cutting the row of labels from a continuous strip and separating the side strips therefrom forms no part of my present invention, it having been fully described in my pendin application, Serlal No. 621,276, for a labe cutting machine.

The cutting disks 32, bed roll 33, and tensionrolls 42, 43 and 44 are substantially the same in my present invention as those shown and described in my pending application aforesaid. In my present improvement, however, I have separated farther apart the cutting disks and the tension rolls, andhave interposed between them mechanism for printing upon the upper surface of the labels any desired figure or ornamentation, consistin in the present instance of the triangular gure or delta 5, Fig. 18.

The printing mechanism comprises a duplicate set of type cylinders with duplicate ink distributing and ink transferring rolls, with mechanism for supplying ink thereto from a single ink font. The duplicate type cylinders andtheir coiiperating platen cylinders are arranged one behind the other and adapted to print alternate labels, the first type cylinder printing every other label in the row, and the second type cylinder printing the remaining or alternating labels. A description of the last or second printing mechanism will suffice as a description of both.

It consists of a type cylinder 57, Fig. 3, bearing upon its periphery equally spaced type or impression lates 58, with their outer concentric sur aces arranged to cooperate with ayielding peripheral surface 59 of a platen cylinder 60, rotating upon an' eccentric sleeve 61 attached to a shaft 62 journaled in the framework of the machine, and carrying upon its outer end a radial arm 63, Figs. 1 and 14, having its outer end. pivotally connected with a sliding plate 64 lying against the outer side or framework .65 of the machine, and arranged to be clamped thereto by means of a clamping screw 66 passing through a curved slot 67 in the sliding plate 64. A stop 68 projecting from the side of the machine contacts with a set screw 69 carried by the sliding plate 6-1 in order to limit its sliding motion in one direction.

By moving the sliding plate 64, Fig. 1, toward the left, the shaft 62 is rocked, carrying the eccentric sleeve 61, and lowering the platen cylinder 60. By reversing the movement of the eccentric sleeve 61, the platen cylinder may be raised and the amount of pressure between the type plates 58 and the yielding surface 59 of the platen cylinder varied as desired. The set screw 69 and contact stop 68 enable the platen cylinder to be raised to produce any predetermined pressure.

Attached to the shaft 70 carrying the type cylinder 57 is a collar 71 having a radial flange 72 provided with equidistant notches 73 adapted to receive a projecting spur 74 on the side of the type plates 58, thereby insuring the equal spacing of the type plates around the periphery of the type cylinder 57. Each of the type plates 58 is clamped against the flange 72 by a clamping plate 75 and screw 76. One end of the shaft 70 which carries the type cylinder is provided with a concentric recess 77, Figs. 5 and 6. J ournaled loosely on the recessed end of the shaft 70 is agear wheel 78 and pivoted upon the outer side of the gear wheel 78 is a dog 79 capable of rocking upon the stud 80 carried by the gear wheel 78. The outer end 81 of the dog bears against the outer end 82 of a radial arm-83 attached by a set screw 84 to the recessed end of the shaft 70. The inner end 85 of the dog 79 enters through a side opening 86 in the shaft 70 into the recess 77 and bears against the tapered end 87 of an adjusting screw 88, held in a bracket 89 attached to the side framework 65 of the machine. By screwing the adjus*- ing screw 88 into or out of the bracket 89, the dog 79 may be rocked on the gear 78, thereby varying the angular relation of the gear 78 and the type cylinder, allowing the type cylinder to be rotated forward or back to bring the type plates 58 into registration with the labels passin beneath them.

Journaled in the ramework of the machine above the type cylinder 57 is an ink cylinder 90, shown in detached view in Fig. ,12. The ink cylinder 90 is carried upon a shaft 91 and pivoted upon the shaft 91 are two frames 92 and 93. The outer ends of the frames 92 and 93 are connected by a spiral spring 94 with its tension applied to draw the frames together, the movement of the frames being limited by means of adjust- 1 ng screws 95 and 96 contacting with a proectlng bracket upon the framework of the machine and indicated in Fig. 12 at 97. Each of the frames 92 .and 93 are provided at opposite ends with radial sliding studs 98 and 99. The radial slidin studs 98 and 99 are drawn toward the 'sha 91 by spiral springs, one of which is shown at 100, Fig. 12, and journaled in the outer ends of the studs 98 and 99 are the ink transferring rolls 101 and 102. The springs 100 draw the transferring rolls 101 and 102 into contact wing the ink cylinder 90, while the spring 94 draws the rolls into contact with the type plates 58, the contact therewith being regulated by the adjusting screws 95 and 96.

Directly above the ink cylinder 90 are a pair of distributing rolls 103 and 104 carried upon spindles-105 and 106, Fig. 4, capable of a longitudinal reciprocating movement in the framework of the machine. The ends of the spindles 105 and 106 are inclosed in the rectangular frames 107 and 108 to which a reciprocating movement is imparted through the levers 109 and 110 by a cam 111 carried upon the rotating shaft 112, Figs. 2 and 4.

Ink is supplied to the ink cylinder 90 from a hopper or ink font 113, Fig. 3, by means of an ink roll 114 entering an opening in the side of the font 113, and rotating in contact with the ink contained therein. The amount of ink carried out of the font upon the periphery of the roll 114 is regulated by a scraping plate 115, having its free edge contacting with the periphery of the ink roll and adjusted by the adjusting screw 116. Beneath the ink roll 114 is an ink. transferring roll 117 ournaled in a rocking frame 118, capable of a rocking motion on pivotal studs 119, 120, Figs. 1 and 2.

The rocking frame 118, Fig. 2, is periodically raised to carry the roll 117 into contact with the roll 114 by means of a cam 121, rotating upon the stud 122. At each revolution of the cam 121 the roll 117 is raised to take ink from the ink roll 114, and depressed by a spiral spring 123, Fig. 2, into contact with the ink tables 124, 125 and 126 as the latter are traversed in a horizontal path by means of a pair of endless chains, one of which is shown at 127, Fig. 3. The endless chains 127 are carried at one end upon rolls 128, one of which is shown in Fig. 3, and at the opposite end upon rotating sprocket wheels 129, one of which is also shown in Fig. 3.

The ink tables 124, 125 and 126 are pivotally connected with the links of the chains 127 and are moved in the direction of the arrow 130 by the rotation of the sprocket wheels 129. As the ink tables traverse the horizontal paths of the chain 127, they are moved against the upper and lower guide rails 131 and 132 which maintain them in a horizontal position. As the ink tables pass successively over the upper rail 131 and beneath the roll 117, the latter is depressed into contact with the table by the action of the spring 123 and cam 121, thereby transferring its ink to the upper surface of the table which then moves beneath the distributing roll 133, causing a more even distribution of ink upon the surface of the ink tables. As the ink tables move beneath the lower rail 132, their inked surfaces are brought undermost and into contact with an ink roll 134, causing ink upon the ink tables to be transferred thereto.

The ink roll 134 is journaled in vertical slots in the fixed frame of the machine, as shown in Fig. 16. Beneath and supporting the ink roll 134 is an ink transferring roll 135 journaled in a swinging frame 136, which is normally drawn forward by a spring 137, Figs. 3 and 16, to hold the transfer roll 135 in permanent contact with the ink cylinder 90. The swinging frame 136 is carried upon a sleeve 138 which rocks about an inclosed shaft 139 journaled in the frame of the machine. The sleeve 138 is cut away at its center to disclose the shaft 139 which is provided with a notch 140, Fig. 3, in which rests a radial spindle 141 carrying upon its upper end a yoke 142 in which is journaled the gudgeons of the roll .135, Fig. 16. The yoke 142 is periodically drawn down toward the sleeve 138 by means of a spiral spring 143, thereby depressing the roll 135 and allowing the roil 134 which rests upon the roll 135 to fall out of contact with the ink tables.

In order to carry the roll 134 into and out of contact with the ink tables, a rocking motion is periodically imparted to the shaft 139 by a cam mechanism shown in Fig. 7. Extending radially from the end of the shaft 139 is an arm 144, Fig. 7, with its end projecting into the path of a cam plate 145, carried. upon the inner side of a gear 146 turning loosely u on a fixed stud 147. Partially inclosing t e end of the shaft 139 is a sleeve 148 to which a strap 149 is attached. The end of the strap 149 is spaced from the radial arm 144 by adjusting screws 150. The sleeve 148 is connected with a fixed framework by a spiral spring 151 which normally holds a stop pin 152 projecting from the sleeve 148 against the framework, as shown in Fig. 7. As the cam plate 145 rotates in the direction of the arrow 153, it imparts a rocking motion to the shaft 139 in pro or direction to lift the spindle 141 and yo e 142 and carry the ink transferring roll 135 upward and push the roll 134 into contact with the ink table which at the time may be passing over it. After the cam plate 145 passes the radial arm 144, the action of the spring 143 will reverse the rocking motion of the shaft 139 and again depress the free end of the radial arm 144, allowing the spring 143 to depress the yoke 142 and the ink transferring roll 135, al-

lowing the roll 134 to descend out of contact with the ink table.

By the action of the cam mechanism shown in Fig. 7, the transfer roll 134 is alternately brought into and out of contact with the ink tables, while the transfer roll 135 remains normally in contact with both the ink cylinder 90 and the transfer roll 134. Referring to Fig. 3, the ink transfer-ring rolls 134 and 135 are shown in the osition to transfer ink from the inking table-126 to the ink cylinder 90 during the passage over the inking roll 134 of the ink table 126. During the passage of the next ink table, or table 124, the ink transferring rolls 134 and 135 are depressed and again raised to take ink from the next succeeding table, or table 125. The ink tables are, therefore, alternately connected and disconnected with the ink cylinder 90.

The duplicate printing mechanism comprising the platen cylinder 60, type cylinder 57", and its inking mechanism, which is the duplicate of that just described in connection with the type cylinder 57, has its rising and falling ink transferring rolls 134 and 135 arranged to be raised and depressed in a similar manner to the transferring rolls 134 and 135 by means of a cam mechanism shown in detail in Fig. 8, and comprising a rocking shaft 139 provided with a radial arm 144* which is alternately raised by the action of a cam plate 145 carried upona gear 146 and depressed by a spiral spring 151. The action of the cam mechanism shown in Fig. 8 is arranged to act upon the ink transferring roll 134 to raise the same into position to take ink from those ink tables which do not deliver ink to the roll In the operation of the ink mechanism, as represented in Fig. 3, ink will be transferred from the ink table 126 to the ink cylinder 90, while the transfer rolls 135 and 134 will be depressed during the passage of ink table 126 over the ink roll 134, but will be raised in position to take ink from the next succeeding table 124. As there are two inking cylinders 90 and 90, and three ink tables 124, 125 and 126, it follows that the order of ink transference will be broken at each successive rotation of the endless chains 127, so that the ink table which may deliver ink to one of the ink cylinders 90 or 9O during one revolution of the chains 127 will, during the next revolution of the chains 127, deliver ink to the other inking cylinder only. By alternating the inking tables and employing one more table than there are inking cylinders, I accomplish a more even distribution of ink upon the type cylinders 57 and 57, for, if any one of the ink tables should carry an excess of ink, such excess will be delivered alternately to the two ink cylinders.

Power is applied to the driving shaft 15 and the proper timing of t e several printing mechanisms is secured b geared connections with the shaft 15. The geared connection between the type cylinders and inking roll shafts 91 and 91" is accomplished by their geared connection through intermediate gears 154 and 155, with a gear 156 carried on the driving Shaft 15, Fig. 1.

The shafts 45 and 49 of the tension rolls 42, 43 and 44 are connected with theprinting mechanism through the intermediate gears 157 and 158, Fig. 1. The shaft of the type cylinder 57 carries a pinion 159, Fig. 2, on one end, which engages the gear 164 turning loosely on the stud 162. Attached to the hub of the gear 164 is a gear 160 which engages a gear 161 turning loosely on the stud 147, and carrying on its hub a sprocket wheel 163 and the gear 146. The gear 164 rotates the cam gear 146. The sprocket wheel 163 has a chain connection 165 with a sprocket wheel 166 turnin loosely on a stud 167 held in a two arme lever 168, pivoted at 169 to the post 170. The two ,armed lever 168 may be rocked on its pivot in order to tighten the chain 165 and held in position by means of a clamping bolt 171 passing through a slot 172 in the lever and entering the post 170. On the hub of the sprocket wheel 166 is a gear 173 which meshes with a gear 174 attached to a shaft 17 6 which carries the sprocket wheels 129 by which the ink table chains 127 are driven. From the gear 174, Fig. 2, the ink roll 114 is rotated through intermediate gears 175, 177 and 178, the latter gear carrying the cam 121 by which the roll 114 is raised or lowered.

In Figs. 19 and 20 I have illustrated the operation of my improved label making machine in diagrammatic views which show also a modification in the tension rolls and the addition of a wheel having its periphery indented to receive the individual labels. Referring to Figs. 19 and 20, A, A denote the rolls comprised in the cutting mecha nism, B, B, and C, C the two sets of printing rolls and D and E represent the tension rolls which vary from the rolls 42 and 43, shown in the preceding figures, in that the roll D is an expansion roll capable of adjustment to increase or decrease its periphery, and thereby control the longitudinal movement of the label strip through the machine. The roll D consists of a series of radial blades F which are expanded by a central cone G to increase the I:periphery of the roll. Spiral springs H, are wound about the outer edges of the blades to hold them in contact with the central cone and contract the roll as the cone is withdrawn.

By the use of the expanding roll D the speed of the label strip can be varied positively and at will, relatively to the peripheral speed of the cutting disks. After the strip of completed labels has left the machine, I preferably carry it beneath a floating roll I to form a loop, and to a wheel J having in its Periphery a series of indentations K fitting the labels and acting as a sprocket wheel to withdraw the labels from the machine, and also to enable the operator to determine whether the proper number of labels are being formed in a gi en gth of the strip and enable the proper adjustment of the tension rolls to be-made.so as to secure the proper length of the strip passing through the cutting rolls ateach revolution of the latter.

The operation of the machine is as followz-Tha continuous strip 6 is taken from a coil, not shown, between the dust removing brushes 7 and S, revolving against the move ment of the strip. The guides 19 and 39 having been suitably adjusted conduct the strip to the cuttlng mechanism by which the strip is nearly severed to shape a central row of labels, formed in the present instance as circular disks slightly connected at their edges. From the cutting mechanism the strip asses between the type cylinders 57 and 5 and platen rolls 60 and 60 to the guide plate 41. The side or waste strips 3, 3 are conducted downward between the tension rolls 42 and 43 and through the tube 46. Adjustment of the bed roll 33 is made to determine the amount of severance of the paper fibers, and an adjustment of the type cylinders is made to cause the type impression to register with the labels. The platen rolls are adjusted to regulate the impression and the tension rolls are adjusted to increase the movement of the strip through the machine in order that a definite and predetermined length of strip shall contain the exact number of labels required, which can be determined by observin the passage of the strip over the wheel J the movement of the strip being increased or decreased to cause the labels to fit the indented spaces K.

I claim:

1. In a label making machine, a printing mechanism, comprising a pair of type cylinders, a common ink font, means for distributing ink from said font to said pair of type cylinders, comprising a series of ink tables consisting of an odd number of tables, and means for transferring ink alternately to said type cylinders from said ink tables.

2. In a printing mechanism, a pair of printing type cylinders and platen cylinders, a series of ink tables consisting of an odd number of tables, means for moving said tables in a predetermined path, means for supplying ink to said tables during their movement, and means for transferring ink from said tables alternately to said type cylinders.

3. In a label making machine, a printing mechanism, comprising a series of ink distributing tables, an endless chain connected with said tables, means for determining the path of said tables, and means for moving said chain.

4. In a printing mechanism, an even number of type cylinders, an ink font, an odd number of ink tables, means for transferring ink from the ink font to said tables in suecession, and means for transferring ink from said tables to said type cylinders alternately.

5. In a printing mechanism, a source of ink supply, a series of ink tables consistin of an odd number movable past said in supply, means for transferring ink to said tables, a type cylinder, and means for transferring ink from said ink tables alternately to said type cylinder. 7

6. In a printing mechanism, a source of ink supply, a series of ink tables, consisting of an odd number, means for transferring ink from said ink supply to said tables, a pair of type cylinders, and means for transferring ink from said tables alternately to said type cylinders alternately.

7. In a printing mechanism, a type cylinder, a source of ink supply, a series of ink tables, means for transferring ink from said supply to said tables, means for transferring ink from said tables to said type cylinder, and means for periodically rendering said second ink transferring mechanism inoperative.

8. In a printing mechanism, a source of ink supply, a series of ink tables, means for moving said tables in a predetermined path, means for transferring ink from said ink supply to said tables, means for distributing the ink on said tables, a type cylinder, and means for transferring ink from said tables alternately to said type cylinder.

9. In a printing mechanism, a type cylinder, a source of ink supply, a series of ink tables, means for moving said tables in a predetermined path, means for applying ink to the upper surfaces of said tables, means for turning said tables to bring their inked surfaces lowermost, means for moving the turned tables in a predetermined path, and means for transferring ink from said tables to said type cylinder.

10. In a printing mechanism, an ink font, a roll running in contact with the ink in said font, a series of ink tables movable in a predetermined path past said ink roll, a swinging transfer roll normally in contact with. said ink roll, and means for swinging said transfer roll into contact with said ink tallalles as they pass in succession by said ink ro 11. In a printing mechanism, a source of ink supply, a series of ink tables, an endless chain for moving said tables past said ink supply and having a pivotal connection with said tables, and guide rails for maintaining said tables in a horizontal position as they traverse the horizontal paths of the chain.

12. In a printing mechanism, a type cylinder, an ink cylinder for supplying ink thereto, a second' ink cylinder ieldingly held in rolling contact with said rst cylinder, a transfer cylinder held in slotted bearings in the framework of the machine, and resting upon said second ink cylinder, an ink table movable past said transfer cylinder,

and means for rolling said second ink cylin der on the periphery of said first ink cylinder to raise said transfer cylinder into contact with said ink table.

13. In a printing mechanism, a type cylinder, an 1Ilk roll, a pair of transfer rolls carried in swinging frames, springs applied to said frames to draw said transfer rolls into contact with said type cylinder, and

springs applied to said swinging frames to draw said transfer rolls into contact with said ink roll.

14. In a printing mechanism, a type cylinder, an ink roll in fixed relation thereto, a transfer cylinder between said type cylinder and said ink roll, yielding means for holding said transfer roll in contact with said ink roll, yielding means for drawing said transfer roll toward said type cylinder, and means for limiting the movement of said transfer roll toward said type cylinder.

15. In a printing mechanism, a type roll, an ink roll, transfer rolls for transferring ink from said ink roll .to said type roll, a plurality of ink tables adapted to be moved successively past said ink roll, and means for transferring ink from said tables alternately, said last mentioned means operative when the ink tables reach a predetermined position.

16. In a printing mechanism, an ink roll, a plurality of ink tables adapted to be moved successively past said ink roll, and means for transferring ink-from said roll to each of said tables, said last-mentioned means adapted to operate when each table reaches a predetermined position.

17. In a printing mechanism, a series of ink tables adapted to move in a single path and in succession, means for supplying ink to said tables, a transfer roll for receiving ink from said tables, and means for moving said transfer roll into contact with alternate tables of said series as they pass in succession by said transfer roll.

18. In a label making machine, a series of ink tables containing an odd number of tables, movable in a common path, means for supplying ink to said tables, a pair of ink receiving devices, and'means for moving each of said devices out of contact with alternate tables of the series.

19. In a label making machine, a series of ink tables, movable in a common path, means for supplying ink to said tables, a pair of ink receiving devices, means for moving one of'said devices into contact with alternate tables of the series, and means for moving the other of said devices into contact with the remaining tables of the series.

20. In a label making machine, a pair of type cylinders, 11 series of ink tables, contaming an odd number of tables, movable in a common path, means for supplying ink to said tables, and means for transferring ink from each of said tables alternately to said type cylinders.

21. In a label making machine, a pair of type cylinders, a series of ink tables, movable in a common path, means for supplying'ink to said tables, and means for transferring ink to each type cylinder from alternate tables ofthe series.

22. In a label making machine, an ink cylinder, a series of ink tables adapted to be moved successively past said ink cylinder, and means, comprising a roll in contact with said ink cylinder, and a second roll movable into and out of contact with said ink tables, for transferring ink from said tables to said cylinder.

23. In a label making machine, an ink cylinder, an ink table movable past said ink cylinder, and means, comprising a roll in peripheral contact with said cylinder and a second roll in peripheral contact with said first roll, for transferring ink from said table to said cylinder.

Dated this third day of April 1914.

MILTON H. BALLARD.

Witnesses ELEANOR SYLvA, JosIAH GROSSMAN.

It is hereby certified that in Letters Patent No. 1,162,016, granted November 30,

1915, upon the application of Milton H. Ballard, of Lynn, Massachusetts, for an improvement in Printing Mechanism, errors appear in the printed specification requiring correction as follows: Page 2, line 96, for Figs. 14 and 15, read Figs. 4 and 15; same page, line 102, before the word "rolls insert the article the; page 3, line 120, for the word wing read with; and that the said Letters Patent should be read with these corrections therein that the same may conform to the record of: the case in the Patent Oflice. I

Signed and sealed this 18th day of January, A. D., 1916.

J. NEWTON,

Acting Commissioner of Patents.

[snan] 

